Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s premier game viewing destination and one of the most biologically diverse parks in the world, not least thanks to its mind-boggling bird list of 610 species.
Located in southwest Uganda, the park’s famous tree-climbing lions are its undisputed wildlife stars but visitors on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari can also expect to see elephants, hippo, crocodiles, buffalo and plenty of antelope species.
But the park’s real reward lies in its ability to offer a diverse range of safari activities. A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel is almost obligatory, given the rewarding game viewing and bird watching en route, while Kyambura Gorge offers a green sliver of the forest to explore, home to chimpanzees and other primates. On-foot chimp tracking through the forest is available twice a day and makes a wonderful contrast with the savannah game viewing in the rest of the park.
Popular and accessible, Queen Elizabeth National Park is on many Uganda safari itineraries and combines easily with gorilla trekking in nearby Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. There’s a wide variety of accommodation, from family-friendly lodges to secluded tented camps, and activities range from game drives and boat cruises to professionally guided nature walks, chimp trekking in Kyambura gorge and sensational bird watching.
Things to see & do In Queen Elizabeth NP
- Lion Experience
Lion Tracking Research at Queen Elizabeth – another way to see Lions in Queen Elizabeth Park. The Uganda Carnivore Project does research on Lions and other predators in the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth and you can join on one of their research outings. This is a limited and rare opportunity and has to be booked in advance if you are on a safari with us and we will include it in your Safari Itinerary.
Each morning or late afternoon you can take part in a Lion Tracking Research Experience in Queen Elizabeth Park – these tracking times last between one to three hours and are done twice a day and tracks lions who have radio-collars attached to them. You will be with researchers and learn the habits of the Lions in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Learn More about Lion tracking In Queen Elizabeth National park.
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura gorge
The kyambura gorge ‘underground forest’ is a tree-filled gorge that runs down the east of Queen Elizabeth National Park, some 100m deep and a kilometre across at its widest point. As a geographical feature, it’s pretty impressive, but the real reason to descend into its depths are the resident chimpanzees that live in the rainforest canopy. Some of the chimps have been habituated and can be tracked with a Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, but keep in mind that sightings here are far less frequent than in other regions (for this reason the price tag, at the just US $60, is a lot lower, too). Even without seeing chimps, a walking safari here is enjoyable, and you can keep a lookout for black and white colobus, vervet and red monkeys, as well as abundant birdlife, including colourful bee-eaters and the aquatic finfoot.
- Game Drives
Game drive especially the morning game drives are a common undertaking for most visitors to Queen Elizabeth National park. Probable animals to look out for include the lions, leopards, jackal, Elephants, Kobs, waterbucks and more.
- Kazinga channnel boat safari.
The Kazinga Channel boat trip provides a truly unique wildlife viewing experience. Flowing between Lakes Edward & Gorge, this narrow channel is perfect for a boat safari that lets you sit back and gaze at the wildlife, swimming, wallowing, drink and going about their afternoon affair. Most abundant are the hippos, which absolutely collect around each other in groups called schools or pods. One very important tip for the day is; keep your camera strap around your neck. If one lurches out the water as you’re trying to take a picture, there’s a good chance you’ll drop your camera.
- Birding safari.
Bothe game Drives and boat safari on the Kazinga channel are amazingly Bird-filled. The Kazinga channel banks attract plenty of bird species – almost 600 species – with giant kingfishers, bee-eaters, weaverbirds, saddle-billed storks and fish eagles most commonly seen.
- Crater Drive.
Katwe Explosion Crater Drive is 27 kilometres through one of the most scenic areas in Uganda and well worth a drive. There will be many photo opportunities of stunning Craters and Crater Lakes, you will not see the wildlife that you would on the savannah plains below, but you will see your share of Elephants and Buffaloes. Some say it takes you about two hours to make this drive, that is cutting it short since there are too many photo opportunities for you along the way.
Learn more about the Katwe Crater drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is open all year long, but wildlife viewing is at its best from January to February and June to July (the Dry seasons). However, this scenic park is at its most beautiful in the Wet seasons from March to May and August to December.
***April, May, August and September are very wet months and during that time, the rain might interfere with your safari.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park
From your home country, you will fly into Uganda through Entebbe International Airport (EBB) located near the town Entebbe, about 46km/29mi from the capital, Kampala.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located approximately 400km/248miles from Entebbe. Thes drive from Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park typically will last about 7 hours with the greatest section of the drive being on a paved road.
Alternatively, you may opt to fly from Entebbe to Mweya or Kasese airports. Mweya is situated inside the Park while Kasese is approximately 53km from Mweya. Aerolink Uganda operates daily flights to both Mweya and Kasese.
| From | To | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Notes |
| Entebbe | Kasese/Mweya | 07:00 am | 10:05 am | Passengers can connect onwards to Masai Mara Via Entebbe and Kisumu for immigration. |
| Kasese/Mweya | Entebbe | 10:20 am | 11:25 am | |
| Entebbe | Kasese/Mweya | 10:15 am | 12:05 am | Mid-morning daily flights except in April, May & November. |
| Kasese/Mweya | Entebbe | 12:20 pm | 01:30 pm | |
| Entebbe | Kasese/Mweya | 12:00 noon | 02:45 pm | Flight from Entebbe may route Via Murchison Falls National Park subject to loads. |
| Kasese/Mweya | Entebbe | 02:20 pm | 04:15 pm | |
| Timings may vary depending on aircraft routing. | ||||
Realm Africa Safaris™ will collect you from the airport or hotel and further transportation will be part of pre-booked your Uganda safari package.
